Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has suggested that Jude Bellingham could maintain his advanced role as a false nine for Saturday's Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.
The Italian coach has come under increasing pressure after Madrid were dumped out of the Champions League quarter-finals following a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Arsenal. Some reports have gone so far as to suggest that Ancelotti will be out of a job in the immediate aftermath of the cup final regardless of the outcome.
Madrid's unflappable head coach is insistent that no decision has been made and is gunning for a title that can only strengthen his position. Ancelotti's side have already been heavily beaten by Barcelona twice this season, prompting the 65-year-old to consider a change in approach this weekend.
The prospect of Bellingham lining up through the middle in a more advanced role was raised this weekend. The England international racked up a staggering haul of 23 goals from this position last season but was shunted back into midfield following Kylian Mbappe's arrival in the summer. The Frenchman was suspended for Madrid's 1-0 victory over Athletic Club on Sunday, allowing Bellingham to flourish in a return to that system.
"That position gave us a lot of advantage last season," Ancelotti admitted. "He did very well today, especially in the second half, because we attacked more and he deserved to score."
Ancelotti also mused over a wider tactical shift away from 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-2. "That doesn't mean I have to play with four midfielders," the Italian warned. "Sometimes the two strikers have been Mbappe and Vinicius, and Jude on the left, but it was a 4-4-2. You can play like that with six midfielders; we have wingers who can play in the middle."
Madrid were ruthlessly dismantled by Barcelona in October when lining up with a 4-4-2 with Mbappe and Vinicius at its tip behind a midfield line of Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga. Ancelotti adopted a front-foot approach for January's Supercopa de Espana final, deploying a top-heavy quartet of Mbappe, Bellingham Vinicius and Rodrygo. Madrid were thrashed 5-2.
The defending La Liga champions have to navigate a tricky capital derby against Getafe on Wednesday evening before they can begin to focus fully on Saturday's final.
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